Arrange a mortgage quickly: How to enforce an agreement in record time

In the fast-paced housing market of 2026, time is your biggest enemy. Where it used to be common to take six to eight weeks to finance, sellers are now often demanding shorter terms. In fact, some bids are only accepted if the buyer can guarantee that the mortgage will be completed within two or three weeks.

A quick mortgage application isn't a matter of luck; it's a matter of military preparation and understanding banks' digital underwriting process. In 2026, lenders will largely work with algorithms and source data. If you have your data in order, the computer can make a decision within a few minutes. Here is the step-by-step plan to secure your mortgage in record time.

Collect source data (The digital highway)

The biggest delay in mortgage applications is caused by incomplete or incorrect documents. In 2026, the “paper” employer statement was replaced by source data almost everywhere.

• Ockto or WiZe: Many banks use apps such as ockto. This allows you to use your digid to retrieve your income data directly from the tax authorities, the UWV, mining government and your pension fund.
• The advantage: Because this data comes directly from the source, an acceptor does not have to manually check it for authenticity. This reduces the review time from days to minutes.
• Manual file: Do you still have to upload documents? Then make sure you have perfect quality scans (no photos with shadows or cropped corners). Banks reject a file immediately if one digit is unreadable, which takes you days.

Pre-arrange the “Mortgage pledge”

Waiting for your bid to be accepted to settle your finances is the biggest mistake you can make. In 2026, proactive buyers will work with a mortgage promise or a bid certificate.

• Pre-consultation: See an advisor before viewing. Have your income, debts (BKR) and your own money tested in advance.
• Security for the seller: With a certificate from your advisor saying: “This buyer has been checked and can borrow this amount”, you are 1-0 ahead. Sellers are more likely to agree to a shorter financing period if they know that the preliminary work has already been done.

Call in a quick appraiser right away

Once your bid has been accepted, the valuation report is the most important link. Without a report, the bank cannot issue the final offer.

• The local expert: Choose an appraiser who is familiar with the region and who guarantees that the report is submitted to the validation authority (NWWI) within three business days of recording it.
• Desktop valuation: In 2026, a “Desktop valuation” will be accepted for many simple homes (which does not require a physical visit). This is cheaper and the report is often received within four hours. Ask your advisor if your home qualifies for this.

Choose the right lender

Not every bank is equally fast. Large traditional banks sometimes have to deal with seasonal hustle and bustle, which means that lead times are up to weeks.

• Regulatory parties and insurers: In 2026, it is often the smaller controlling parties or pension funds that have the fastest acceptance processes, because they work completely digitally.
• Dagrente: Choose a bank that works with daily interest. This prevents you from having to renegotiate the interest rate if the process ends one day, which in turn would result in extra paperwork.

Repay small debts immediately

A current credit (such as a private lease contract, a credit card or a residual debt with the BKR) can delay the application because the bank asks for additional proof about the repayment.

• Clean sheet: Make sure your BKR registration is as clean as possible before you submit the application. If you have student debt, make sure you already have the most recent overview of duo ready as a PDF. In 2026, banks will look at the actual costs, so a recent overview is crucial for a quick calculation.

Communicate via one channel

Use a mortgage advisor who works with an online portal. E-mailing separate documents back and forth is the slowest method that exists.

In a portal, you can see exactly which documents have been approved and which still require action. As soon as a “check mark” is missing, you can respond immediately. In 2026, 90% of the “speed to market” depends on how quickly you, as a buyer, respond to bank requests.

Be alert to the “Donation” and your own money

Are you making use of a donation from your parents (the “jubelton” no longer exists, but a normal donation still exists)? Make sure that the donation agreement is already signed and ready. The bank wants to see proof of where its own money comes from. If this money is still fixed in an investment account or a savings account at another bank, make sure it is already in the account you will use to pay for the home. Transferring large amounts between banks can sometimes take 24 to 48 hours, which can be just the delay you don't want.

The final verdict: Preparation is 90% of the speed

Arranging a mortgage within two weeks is absolutely possible in 2026, provided you go the digital route. By using source data, pre-arranging a bid certificate and requesting a (desktop) valuation directly, you can remove the human delay from the process.

The winning buyer is not the buyer who shouts the loudest, but the buyer who already has all the PDFs in their digital folder at the first call. Speed gives you peace of mind, and rest gives you the best negotiating position.